DMV warns motorists of new telephone scam

The DMV is warning West Virginia motorists of a phone scam in which callers claiming to be Internal Revenue Service employees collecting back taxes demand payment via pre-paid card or wire transfer.

The scammers threaten to take the motorists' drivers licenses unless they pay, DMV says. The scammers may appear legitimate by having the last four digits of the victim's social security number, using a caller ID that shows "DMV," a DMV or an IRS phone number, or sending emails with the IRS logo in them.

But in real life, DMV contacts motorists about potential driver's license suspensions, revocations or other actions by mail, not by phone, nor does the IRS typically contact taxpayers by phone.

"The IRS usually first contacts people by mail – not by phone – about unpaid taxes," the IRS said in a recent release. "And the IRS won't ask for payment using a pre-paid debit card or wire transfer."

The IRS recommends that customers who receive suspicious calls should call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 and then report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 1-800-366-4484.

For more information regarding the IRS and any potential phone scam, visit their web page at www.irs.gov. For DMV-related concerns contact the call center at 1-800-642-9066 or visit the DMV website at www.dmv.wv.gov.